Simple Strategies for Promoting Your Website

Link Building is still key

There are good and bad links so - beware. First, the links have to relevant to your website from relatable, legitimate high traffic sites and, in particular, from the individual pages that have traffic from real people, rather than machines. 

Be aware that some websites that Google’s recent 'Helpful Content Update' (HCU) affected appear to have rebounded after cleaning up their link profile, you likely want to be particularly careful about the quality of links pointed to your site, and the linking text.

Of course, all of the usual caveats in terms of ensuring that links are from reputable sites that have links pointed to them apply as well.

Industry or Local Contacts

If you have a good relationship with other website owners in a similar industry, suggest to them that links to each other 's website would be beneficial to you both. For example, you may own a Mexican food restaurant in your town and could recommend a Cajan restaurant in the next town (and vice versa, obviously). Ideally, these links should have similar words on the linking page and the destination page.

Perhaps the businesses in your locality bear no relationship with your offering other than a 'support local business' element. Again, enhance the quality of the link(s) by using words from the designated landing page within the paragraph containing the link. 

Social Media, News and Blog Posts

If the websites have News pages, links can be incorporated in a post on the website(s) otherwise the information can be submitted to blog sites, as appropriate to your target audience. These may include WordPress, Substack, Tumblr and, of course, Google. 

You should take advantage, if you haven't already, of free publicity in the form of Facebook, X-Twitter and LinkedIn. Instagram doesn't link to websites from its posts. Videos and image slide-shows can also be uploaded to YouTube and TikTok. There are other social media apps, the most popular are covered here.

Need support? Let us know in the comments.

Blogging replaced by Vlogging?

A blogger noticed that views have declined rapidly. Their stats (immediately below, with permission) are for 12 months and total in excess of 6k so let's remove the Singapore views for this exercise and we are left with a total of well over 1,000 views a year.

Total blog views in 30 days (above) = 81

As an ongoing average x 12 months = 972 per year

- OR -

removing Singapore = 8 per month, let's say 100 per year 

(less than 10% of the previous year)

Based in the UK, the blogger is surprised that

THERE ARE NO UK VIEWS DURING THE PAST 30 DAYS. 

Time to check The BPc blogs and see how they compare 

Blog 1 https://thebpcuk.blogspot.com/ 

Over 1,000 views in the past 30 days, almost 13,000 views in the past 12 months - steady average. 

Here's the odd bit - just under 50% of these views came from The Isle of Man!! Really, Google?

Blog 2 https://myportfolioltd.blogspot.com/ 
Over 1,000 views in the past 30 days, almost 23,000 views in the past 12 months - declining average? 
More than 90% of these were almost equally divided between The USA and Singapore.

Other blogging hosts 

Wordpress & Tumblr have not, in the past, been as successful as blogger/blogspot. Indeed, we struggle to make any headway whatsoever with the latter. 

YouTube

The BPc's YouTube channel has had almost 3.5k views in the past 30 days and almost 18k in the past year. This indicates that views have improved and, on further analysis, we see that visits in the second half of the year increased phenomenally: 

Our conclusion is that... we don't know the reasons for any of these fluctuating stats. We'd be delighted if anyone can explain in simple terms. 

Other hosts for social media video include Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Good luck out there! 

Stay in Business: Go With The Flow...

Do you still use 'Twitter' or have you started calling it 'X'? In business, there are always changes and going with the flow is the only way to survive.

For example, The BPc began as a graphic design and marketing agency in 1990. Eventually, DIY design software became publicly available and some companies started creating their own logos, marketing materials, etc. Ironically, we soon had a surge in design requests because clients realised that, just because you have the software, it doesn't mean you have the experience of good graphic design.

Around 1996, we included website design services (thankfully, the co-owner had a technical background, therefore writing HTML was a doddle). Since then, the majority of our work was website design, including optimisation and internet marketing to keep our clients on page 1 of Google. Then internet service providers and software companies started to offer DIY website solutions for users to 'be in control of their own destiny'. Hmm. What it really meant was that users were tied to the company who owned the website software and, of course, their monthly costs often escalated. But, as had happened with graphic design software, a number of new clients approached us to update their websites or, in some cases, rewrite them.

As an additional marketing service, we offered video shoots and recruited a film graduate to produce professional videos for our clients but now everyone is an expert with a smartphone. We are occasionally asked to create a more professional look to 'movies'. 

Social Media management is one of our popular services. Everyone can do it but most smaller businesses don't prioritise it, preferring to spend a small amount per month to have a reliable service manage it for them.

But we are nothing if not flexible. Moving on to today's projects, they break down (approximately) as follows:

• Website design, updates and maintenance (40%)
• Blog and Social Media marketing (30%)
• Literary proof-reading and Script writing/editing (20%)
• Graphic Design (5%)
• Troubleshooting, video work and miscellaneous (5%)

Note the new entry in the middle of the table. 

Going with the flow has kept us solvent for nearly a quarter of a century so we thoroughly recommend it for some SMEs.

We wish you the best of luck with your endeavours! 

How Popular are Blogs in 2023?

First, let's redefine what a blog is. This blog is an ancient one created on Blogger (Google) well over 10 years ago. Blogs started as text-on-the-web-logs, a diary or journal that may have been a creative outlet for some but was essentially to record whatever you wanted, either shared or not shared. It quickly became a business tool for businesses to announce news about their products, services, activities, etc. Now, such blogs are usually incorporated into a company's website as their news page. 'Professional' blogs followed, brand-building for the entrepreneur who wanted to share experience and gain kudos.

Then blogging caught on in a big way. Generally, as an outlet of people referred to as 'influencers' whose main goals are to gain followers by bringing trends and know-how to the public - where to go, what to see, how to look, and other lifestyle tips, including fashion, furnishing your home and a variety of other lifestyle topics. Travel blogs are usually well-researched and often provide essential information. Food is such big topic that it has it's own category - people were now able to follow recipes and cooking styles from around the world, which were previously unknown.

Reviews began as genuine opinions but have too often become a form of advertising. There are rules to follow - they are supposed to tell followers if they are being paid to promote the product or service or if they are affiliated in some way. Popular YouTuber TomSka is always bringing ASA (Advertising Standards Agency) rules to viewers' attention. 

News blogs are a major part of every network's website, though many of them are not regularly updated. No doubt you've been unable to avoid them. Here's a recap... 

• Personal blog 
• Business/company blogs 
• Professional/branding blog 
• Lifestyle/influencer blogs 
• Travel blogs 
• Food blogs 
• Affiliate/review blogs 
• News blogs
• Multimedia blogs 

More recently, there has been an explosion of multi-media blogs: vlogs, podcasts and video channels. Personally, I prefer to read blogs because I can do it at my chosen pace, depending on what parts of the content interests me, and it's easy to skip over the bits I already know.

Both audio podcasts and visual information (e.g. YouTube) have become extremely popular, far more so than a traditional blog such as this. However, there are considerations before using them. Audio: is your voice or regional accent going to be listened to and understood by your target audience? Video: have you practiced speaking into camera? Is your backdrop a distraction? Do you have an adequate setup for filming? 

Definitely have a go at all forms of information sharing but make sure that you check and, if necessary, edit the final blog/vlog/podcast before you share and publicise it. 

Link: https://youtu.be/AuYuzkGA3SI

Wishing you the best of luck! 

Website Design, Collaborations & SEO

In recent months, we have worked on several behind-the-scenes tasks, including video filming and editing plus SEO content and social media consultancy for clients of website developer Professional Solutions in Hertfordshire and business consutant Personal Business Advice in Harrow. Three examples are:

1. We published a new website for our client SunSeeker Roller-Shutters. We edited a short video of the electric shutters closing at the press of a button and applied some visual effects to add interest, keeping it short at just over 20 seconds.

2. SEO & Social Media services for SMRow - electrical services

3. SEO & Social Media services for Kate Edmonson - bespoke bridalwear

Contact The BPc for website design and related promotions - or for your content and social media needs (WordPress, blog writing, Twitter, etc.).

How to Embed a PowerPoint Presentation into a Web page or Blog

Recently, a client asked whether they could include a PowerPoint presentation to run within their website....

How easy this is for each application depends on your website or blog platform and whether you currently update your blog or website content. Below are the instructions for WordPress website pages or posts and Google Blogger. They are based on having a MicroSoft account and a One Drive account - it's easy to set them up and if you have Windows 10, you are probably already set up. The terminology we are using refers to a Windows-based computer with MicroSoft Office, rather than a Mac or iPad.

You can choose an existing PPT file or create a new one and copy, move or save it, as appropriate, to a OneDrive folder, in exactly the same way as you would store a file on your PC. The One Drive folders should be visible in the left column of Windows Explorer, as shown below.

Log into your Microsoft account and go to OneDrive in your browser. Tick the box in the upper-right corner of the file to select the file you want to embed. Click Embed on the top of the page, and then choose Generate.

click to enlarge image to make it readable

Copy and paste the resulting code into the HTML window of your website or blog... et voilà!

Please click through our test presentation, below.

Get in touch if you get stuck and we'll try to help (no charge, no obligation).

---

For more insights on how to engage with your readers, peruse our post about adding videos to your blog or website. The principle is similar, using third party media such as YouTube.

Further information: PowerPoint WebApp & SkyDrive-OneDrive / PowerPoint and Office 365-SharePoint

How SEO has Attained Adulthood

Hats off to Google!

Whilst I still believe the search-engine giants to be manipulative and to favour businesses who can afford to pay for advertising and high profile professional promotional services, I accept that this is just the way that business has always been done. Throughout history, money generates money, most of the time.

However, Google has taken a moral stand against some kinds of 'cheating' and has patiently trained website owners to work with them, rather than against them. To be fair on website owners, most of them are not bad, just naiive, and Google was a bit heavy-booted at first.

Still, we're on fairly stable ground now and SEO practices are, to some extent, standardised. In the world of small businesses (SMEs), this has been assisted in some part by the standardisation of website and e-commerce developer packages and their recommended themes and popular add-ons. For example, the use of WordPress to create a website with Yoast or similar plug-ins as basic SEO guides.

• It is easier for website developers to create good quality, standardised - but unique - website for clients
• It is easier for website owners/managers to maintain current data on their websites
• it is easier to integrate Social Networking - the primary source of links to SME websites

With equal availability of low-cost tools and general knowledge, it is less easy to get an edge over competitors who have more muscle, even if you have a 'better' product or service.

SEO on a Budget

If you can't afford to get ahead, at least try to stay in the game. Whether you do it yourself or farm it out, there are certain practices you should follow.

• Website page content should be full of interesting information for your potential clients/customers. For clarity (and SEO) use the product name rather than 'it' (but don't over-do it!) and try to write at least 300 words per page/topic. Include images (with alt-tags) where appropriate - it helps to make text more readable. Use keywords or phrases that your clients might use in their searches and, when there is more information available on another page, link to it with meaningful text.

• Linking to your website from other websites is best when the pages that are linked from and to contain similar keywords. Remember that quality generally overrides quantity (although there are plenty of examples where this seems not to be the case). Forum sites with genuine links to your website are doubly useful as they are valued by users and produce good quality human traffic.

• Social Media is underrated by many website owners. Primarily, for business, the top three are considered to be Twitter, Linked-In and Facebook. However, depending on your business, you may have good results from Pinterest, YouTube and Google+. If you don't have time or inclination to run your social media accounts properly, there are several inexpensive third parties who will manage them for you for a reasonable monthly fee.

Once the foregoing is in place, your next consideration is to include a blog.

• Typically, off-site (Google blogger or Wordpress) or integrated into your WordPress website;
• May be used for news, case-studies, discussion topics, guest posts, "thought leadership" etc.

Link to Blog-related posts.

Links to The BPc on Social Media: TWITTER - BPcUK  | PINTEREST IMAGES | FACEBOOK PAGE | GOOGLE+PLUS 

Should you require our services, please let us know. 

Guest or Ghost Writing Articles and Blog Posts

One of our popular services at The BPc is blog writing. This began with a number of Google blogger accounts for various clients, many of which have been migrated to or superseded by integrated blog posts on WordPress-based websites, some of which we've developed ourselves (see Recently Built and Delivered Client Websites).

In addition to keeping our clients' blogs up to date, we also write articles and posts for publication elsewhere; sometimes as a guest writer and sometimes as a ghost writer. Recently, we wrote a business tips feature with a client, which was published by The British Library.

The purpose of Blogs and Articles

There are two reasons to write blogs and articles: Potential customers & Google.

As long as they are interesting, blog posts on your own website can attract and maintain visitors. If they like what you write, they may recommend you or use your product or service. More traffic is interesting to Google and may help your ranking in their Search Results.

Also of interest to Google is 'quality' content. Google defines quality in many mysterious ways which include:

• number of visitors and length of visit
• length of post or article (300+ words is their suggested minimum)
• images with alt-tags and, preferably, height/width details
• off-site links - but not too many - to related content

Google will analyse your content for keyword stuffing and duplication so DO NOT copy/paste paragraphs of information from elsewhere on the internet - Google algorithms will determine that your post has nothing to offer and it may even impact the value of your whole website.

How to keep coming up with fresh content for your posts

First of all, determine the frequency of posting: one new post every month is better than posting a few all at once then leaving a long gap. Both Blogger and WordPress allow you to schedule your posts. As an aside, you can also schedule your Facebook Business Page posts.

Often, business owners are so used to just getting on with the job that they can't see how any of it can be used to create a 300-word newsworthy item. It may be 'old hat' to you but the rest of the world hasn't heard it yet therefore it's news. An outsider is often the best person to tell you what may be newsworthy.

For example, if your business is erecting flagpoles, what might your blog post schedule look like?

1. Company History
2. How to erect different style flag poles
3. Major order for 1200 flagpoles nationwide
4. Erected some more flagpoles

... then you run out of news until Christmas. Dull as dishwater! Try this:

1. Inspired to set up our flagpole services business
2. If anyone can erect a flagpole, why is our business so successful?
3. 1200 new flagpoles nationwide - find out where and why!
4. Corporate flagpoles in Stevenage and Bath
5. Do you recognise these London landmarks where our flagpoles are sited?

Item 4 may seem a bit pointless but not to companies searching those keywords!! Not only is mentioning place names linked to your service good for searches but mentioning your clients means that they are likely to assist your publicity plans, e.g. with retweets on Twitter. Item 5 is a twist on the same theme, using location keywords and uploading some photos to make it interesting.

If it's a bit of a chore and you'd like The BPc to help, let us know! Find us on Twitter.com/BPcUK

Training for WordPress Websites - Updating and Optimising Content

When we deliver websites that have been built using WordPress, we include a 1 hour handover tutorial plus 30 days full support and up to an hour's email or telephone support for a year. Even if the website is a very small one that has cost the client under £350.

Over time, though, we have found that it is often several months before clients wish to make some content updates and they are then eager to learn how to do more. As a result of this demand, we offer an on-site, one-to-one (or -two) training session which may include the following elements:

• updates to and optimisation of existing content
• creating new optimised pages and posts
• optimising images
• how to use menus and widgets
• other plugins, e.g. sliders

If required, we'll also run through social media and how to use Google Analytics.

For WordPress websites that we have delivered, there is a nominal charge of £75* for a couple of hours or so, after which our hourly rate may be applied.

 

WordPress Website Training - Content Updates and Optimisation

 

If you are considering using our tutorial services for a WordPress website that someone else built, we will need to have access to it before we can confirm whether we are able to offer the same form of training course. Indeed, of the three courses we recently completed, two were for websites designed and created by us, the other was an established WordPress site from another provider who doesn't offer SEO, so that was what we focused on

*Based in Herts, we are only able to offer this on-site service within a 30 minute drive, perhaps a little further for a small additional charge. All prices are subject to VAT at the current rate. The package includes any follow-up questions via email or telephone for up to 30 days for no additional charge.

We also offer Website Design, setting up WordPress or Blogger and Social Media services.

Contact The BPc via twitter, email (using the subject "WordPress Website Blog") or telephone.

Cost of setting up a Blog on Google Blogger

If you need someone to set up your Google Blog, customised with your logo, background and basic colours to match your company website, the guide price from The BPc is £75+vat.

Imagine our amazement when one of our clients instructed their website designer to set up their blog and were quoted 4 x that amount! The right thing for us to do is to step in and suggest that it could be done more cheaply, right? Wrong... well, I think so. It's a bit of a dilemma but we were introduced to the client as part of the team that would look after their internet needs. The client's main contact, the person co-ordinating us, takes a percentage of fees for the introductions so he might be quite happy to allow the client to pay the higher price. Or he may not realize that the price is over inflated.

We'll ponder over the best thing to do but, meanwhile, if anyone else out there is given a price from an existing supplier, please do yourselves a favour and get some comparative quotes.

Email us if you'd like us to quote for setting up your blog in WordPress or Google blogger. We will set up and customise your Social Media accounts, too, if you don't have the time.

p.s. We also specialise in company Logo design, from £75+vat.

Generating Links from your Blog

Google is getting very heavy-handed with bloggers now. If you have too many links in your posts, not only might your blog be labelled as 'unworthy' but the blogs or sites that you link to may also suffer.

If you are focusing a blog post on the content of a specific website, e.g. one that has a catalogue of items that you like, you may be linking to several pages. Here is a tip:when you create the links from your blog post, remember to tick the rel=nofollow box for most of them. Here's how to do it in Blogger:

For WordPress blogs, you will need to know HTML or use a free plug-in.

Boosting your Website traffic with blogs and other links

A new client found this advice useful, recently, so here it is for all to share:

(Client: "What are spammy links?")
Google defines ‘spammy’ links as being of low value to human traffic - for example, a page of information about life after death that included a link to website about dish-washers would seem to be a link purely intended for search engines to find, in order to boost the perceived popularity of a site. One or two may happen and will be probably ignored but if Google detects a pattern of these, they will blacklist the recipient website. Be wary of ‘links specialists’ who 'guarantee' page 1 listings in Google and definitely avoid mass linking deals (e.g. 1000 links for £10).

(Client: "Should I write a blog with links to my website?")
A blog is an excellent information tool for generating information that wouldn’t otherwise be on a website. The blog should have value in its own right, not just be a feeder site for your website (surprise! Google doesn’t like this either). Perhaps the blog could cover a number of related topics and guest bloggers could be encouraged to add diversity. (see 'nofollow' links post)

The BPc has a number of clients in divers business sectors and is able to guest-write for each, occasionally cross-referring, where appropriate. If this service may be of interest to you, please get in touch.